DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 21 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative (NORECO II) has registered over 90% accomplishment in the implementation of the government’s Sitio Electrification Program (SEP).

This was highlighted by NORECO-II General Manager Atty. Fe Marie Dicen-Tagle in a Kapihan sa PIA Forum where she discussed the major gains of the government’s rural electrification program in their coverage area.

She noted that the figure covers sitios in the hinterlands that were listed in 2014 and 2015 and were included in the 2016 to 2022 electrification masterplan of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) which provides the funding for energization of the sitios.

Tagle said the electric cooperative is committed to achieve 100% of their target within the deadline given by NEA within this year.

“Right now we are implementing the SEP that started in 2016 and it’s supposed to finish by 2022 before the next administration. We are practically in a hurry to finish it,” Tagle said.

The electric cooperative is currently re-evaluating its strategies in their implementation of the program after learning that there are some beneficiaries of the program whose houses still do not have electricity despite their being energized by NORECO-II.

“We noticed that in the areas we energized, we have actually constructed the lines but we don’t have the beneficiaries getting their electricity. The reason there is, basically, the lots that they were establishing their homes dili siya (it’s not) qualified for electrification. This one is about requirement of the local government unit or the building official,” Tagle said.

“We are now looking at doing the new system of energizing communities. This is on micro-grid and mini-grid,” she added.

Also, non-energized schools in the area will also be energized once they have completed the energization of these sitios.

Meanwhile, Tagle also cited that the total number of sitios to be energized may continue to increase since additional sitios can be created anytime, but she assured the public that they have already crafted a list of sitios pending for energization for 2021 to 2022.

Some of the additional sitios are located in Pamplona, Siaton, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan, and Basay.  

Tagle emphasized that NORECO-II was created as “missionary in nature” to fulfill the objective of bringing electricity to the farthest homes in the hinterlands.

NORECO-II serves cities and municipalities from Pamplona to Basay in the south.

Tagle added that the electric cooperative was successful in bringing electricity to the mountains. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)